New Zealand is a country of outstanding natural beauty, friendly people and activities galore. You could be there for years (not necessarily a bad thing) trying to do everything. Hiking, or tramping as it’s called in New Zealand is popular and accessible almost everywhere. The 9 great hikes get a lot of attention from books, blogs and guides, but there are hundreds of other excellent hikes all over the north and south island. I-sites as well as DOC (Department of Conservation) information centres are usually good places to pick up information on local walking routes. Naturally New Zealand’s National Parks are full of excellent trails that range from short and easy to challenging multi day treks. Particular favourites of ours were the Tongiriro, Abel Tasman, Aoraki and Arthurs Pass National Park. Below are a few of our favourite hikes from our 5 1/2 week trip. Bay of Islands: There…